May 29, 2012

Getting Facebooked – Borowitz’s Take

Facebook stocks are still going down–down almost 10 percent just today to $28.84 today from a high of $45 a few days ago. The $35 billion loss debacle has even resulted in a verb–Facebooked–probably meaning investors’getting screwed over and then suing everybody involved.

A few days ago, Andy Borowitz wrote this satire, a serious problem because the entire situation is a satire. What he has to say may be prophetic. (But it is still funny!)

A Message about Facebook

From Founder Mark Zuckerberg

MENLO PARK, CA (The Borowitz Report) – The following letter to Facebook users was issued today by Facebook founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg:

Dear Facebook User,

Hi, it’s Mark.

As you may have heard, our IPO last week didn’t go quite as well as expected. How badly did it go, exactly? If you live in a major city, you’ve probably seen homeless guys huddled around bonfires of Facebook stock. More ominously, I just received a call from my attorney telling me that I probably didn’t need a prenup after all.

If you’re a Facebook investor, you already know what this means: it sucks to be you. But what if you’re one of the billion Facebook users in the world? Well, it also sucks to be you, because I am writing to you now to ask for your financial support to help save Facebook.

It’s only fair. Since its founding in 2004, Facebook has totally revolutionized the way you waste your life. Without it, you would find yourself in the unpleasant and awkward position of having to speak to your family. And so, to keep Facebook alive, I am instituting the following new usage charges:

— $1 per poke

— $5 for every ex you crop out of a profile picture

— $10 for every time you stalk someone from high school, college, or job you were fired from because of that HR “incident”

— $15 for every “friend” you have never met (no charge for friends you know, if any)

— $20 for every sheep, bird, or the Scrabble letters Z, X or Q

With your financial help, Facebook should be around for many years to come, providing you with hours upon hours of pointless and isolating activity. Without your help? I’ve just got one word for you: Friendster.